---
title: Cumberland backyard fire and burning rules
question: "Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Cumberland?"
place: Cumberland, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/cumberland
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Cumberland
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/backyard-fire/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/backyard-fire.json"
---

# Cumberland backyard fire and burning rules

**Question:** Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Cumberland?

**Short answer:** In Cumberland you may have a small campfire with a free Village permit. Burning yard waste and land clearing are no longer allowed in the Village. No burning is allowed during a fire ban.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Cumberland, https://cumberland.ca)  
**Cost:** Campfire permit is free. A land-clearing fire permit costs $50 per burn pile. Fire without a permit: $200 ticket ($100 if paid early).  
**How long:** A campfire permit is valid for the calendar year. The Fire Chief may revoke it.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Village Office, 250-336-2291 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
- Phone: Cumberland Fire Rescue (non-emergency), 250-336-2531

## Key facts

- **Backyard campfires:** Small recreational fires (campfires) are allowed with a free permit. The fire must burn clean dry wood, be no larger than 0.5 m (1.5 ft) across, be in a CSA-approved appliance or a fire ring with a screen of 9.5 mm mesh or smaller, be at least 1.5 m from vegetation and 3 m from any building, and not be under tree branches.
  - Source: [Outdoor Burning, Small Recreational Fires (Campfires) in the Village](https://cumberland.ca/outdoor-burning/)
  - Official wording: "Be no larger than 0.5m (1.5 ft) in diameter" … "Be located at least 1.5m from any vegetation or combustible material" … "Be located at least 3m from any building, structure or fuel supply tank"
  - Source: [Fire Protection Services and Regulation Bylaw No. 988, 2014, s. 63](https://cumberland.ca/fire-prevention-and-control-bylaw-no-775-2003/)
  - Official wording: "(f) not beneath the branches of any tree."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Burning yard waste:** Not allowed in the Village. Land-clearing and yard waste fires are no longer permitted, except forestry fires on Private Managed Forest Land and municipal burning. Outside the Village boundary, the Rural Cumberland (Royston) Fire Protection Area has yard waste fire permits valid October 15 to April 15.
  - Source: [Outdoor Burning, Land-Clearing Fires and Yard Waste Fires](https://cumberland.ca/outdoor-burning/)
  - Official wording: "Land-clearing and yard waste fires are no longer permitted in the Village of Cumberland." … "land-clearing fires that are for forestry management purposes and on Private Managed Forest Land;"
  - Source: [Outdoor Burning, Rural Cumberland (Royston) Fire Protection Area](https://cumberland.ca/outdoor-burning/)
  - Official wording: "Yard Waste Fires (Category 2), Valid from Oct 15 to Apr 15"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permit:** Yes for campfires: the permit is free, valid for the calendar year, and issued by the Village; it may be revoked by the Fire Chief. A land-clearing fire permit costs $50 per burn pile.
  - Source: [Outdoor Burning, Small Recreational Fires](https://cumberland.ca/outdoor-burning/)
  - Official wording: "A permit is required for small recreational fires. Permits are free of charge and are valid for the calendar year." … "Permits are not valid when there is a burning ban in effect and may be revoked by the Fire Chief."
  - Source: [Fire Protection Services and Regulation Bylaw No. 988, 2014, Schedule C, s. 2(a)](https://cumberland.ca/fire-prevention-and-control-bylaw-no-775-2003/)
  - Official wording: "Land Clearing Fire Permit Fee: $50 per burn pile"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fire bans:** No burning is allowed while a ban set by the Manager of Protective Services or the BC Wildfire Management Branch is in effect, and campfire permits are not valid during a ban. The Village page links to the provincial fire danger rating.
  - Source: [Fire Protection Services and Regulation Bylaw No. 988, 2014, s. 57(b)](https://cumberland.ca/fire-prevention-and-control-bylaw-no-775-2003/)
  - Official wording: "when a burning ban established by the manager of protective services or the British Columbia Wildfire Management Branch is not in effect,"
  - Source: [Outdoor Burning, Fire Danger Rating](https://cumberland.ca/outdoor-burning/)
  - Official wording: "The Wildlife Management Branch publishes fire danger rating information on website updated year round."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Instead of burning:** Curbside organics and yard waste collected weekly (unlimited), or the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre.
  - Source: [Organics, Organics and Yard Waste Collection](https://cumberland.ca/organics/)
  - Official wording: "Unlimited organics and yard waste is collected weekly from all single family residences in the Village."
  - Source: [Outdoor Burning, Land-Clearing Fires and Yard Waste Fires](https://cumberland.ca/outdoor-burning/)
  - Official wording: "Find out more about disposing of yard waste through your curbside solid waste collection and at the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Fire without a permit: $200 ($100 if paid early). Recreational fire contrary to the bylaw: $200 ($100). Burning prohibited materials: $400 ($200). Burning that causes a hazard: $400 ($200). Land-clearing fire contrary to the bylaw: $1,000 ($500).
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1053, 2017 (consolidated August 2025), Schedule E, Fire Protection Services and Regulation Bylaw No. 988, 2014](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Bylaw-1053-Municipal-Ticket-Info-CONS-Aug-2025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Fire without permit 50 $200 $100" … "Recreational fire contrary to bylaw 63 $200 $100" … "Burn prohibited materials 61 $400 $200" … "Yard waste fire contrary to bylaw 62 $100 $50" … "Burning that causes hazard 58 $400 $200" … "Land clearing fire contrary to bylaw 64 $1,000 $500"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Fire Protection Services and Regulation Bylaw No. 988, 2014
  - Source: [Fire Protection Services and Regulation Bylaw No. 988, 2014, s. 1](https://cumberland.ca/fire-prevention-and-control-bylaw-no-775-2003/)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as “Fire Protection Services and Regulation Bylaw No. 988, 2014”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The Village of Cumberland allows small recreational fires (campfires) with a free permit under its [Fire Protection Services and Regulation Bylaw No. 988](<https://cumberland.ca/fire-prevention-and-control-bylaw-no-775-2003/>). Open burning is not allowed in the Village. Land-clearing and yard waste fires are no longer permitted, except forestry fires on Private Managed Forest Land and municipal burning.

## Steps

1. Get the free campfire permit from the Village (see the [Outdoor Burning page](<https://cumberland.ca/outdoor-burning/>)).
2. Burn only clean dry wood, in a CSA-approved appliance or a fire ring with a screen of 9.5 mm mesh or smaller.
3. Keep the fire no larger than 0.5 m (1.5 ft) across, at least 1.5 m from vegetation and 3 m from any building, and not under tree branches.
4. Before lighting, check that no ban is in effect. The Village page links to the provincial fire danger rating.

## Good to know

- No burning is allowed while a ban set by the Manager of Protective Services or the BC Wildfire Management Branch is in effect, and campfire permits are not valid during a ban. The page also suggests checking the venting index for burning days.
- Instead of burning, use curbside organics and yard waste collection or the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre.
- Outside the Village boundary, the Rural Cumberland (Royston) Fire Protection Area has its own yard waste fire permits, valid October 15 to April 15.
- Tickets: fire without a permit $200 ($100 if paid early); recreational fire contrary to the bylaw $200 ($100); burning prohibited materials $400 ($200); burning that causes a hazard $400 ($200); land-clearing fire contrary to the bylaw $1,000 ($500).

## Official forms and pages

- [Outdoor Burning, Village of Cumberland](https://cumberland.ca/outdoor-burning/)
- [Fire Protection Services and Regulation Bylaw No. 988, 2014, Village of Cumberland](https://cumberland.ca/fire-prevention-and-control-bylaw-no-775-2003/)

## Related questions

- [Cumberland fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/fireworks.md)
- [Cumberland yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/yard-waste.md)
- [Cumberland bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Cumberland garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/garbage-collection.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-fire.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/backyard-fire.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/backyard-fire.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/backyard-fire.md)
- [Powell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/backyard-fire.md)
- [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/backyard-fire.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/backyard-fire.md)

## Sources

- [Outdoor Burning, Village of Cumberland](https://cumberland.ca/outdoor-burning/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fire Protection Services and Regulation Bylaw No. 988, 2014, Village of Cumberland](https://cumberland.ca/fire-prevention-and-control-bylaw-no-775-2003/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Organics, Village of Cumberland](https://cumberland.ca/organics/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1053, 2017 (consolidated August 2025) (PDF)](https://cumberland.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Bylaw-1053-Municipal-Ticket-Info-CONS-Aug-2025.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Cumberland. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/backyard-fire/_